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Flywrite

Flywrite vs VS Code for writing

Pick Flywrite for your writing and keep VS Code for your code: you write on a rendered page you can style your way, Claude Code or any CLI agent works in a terminal that knows what you're writing with no extension to install, and backup to your own GitHub repo takes one button. Stay in VS Code alone if you mostly write code and want a free editor with AI built in.

Published by Flywrite. We make Flywrite, one of the options compared here. Facts are from each product's own pages, checked . · Updated

Pick Flywrite if

  • You write articles, specs, plans, reports or a journal
  • You want your agent to see the file and text you're working on, with no extension to install
  • You want to write on a rendered page styled your way, per project or per file

Keep VS Code if

  • You mostly write code
  • You're happy with VS Code's Markdown preview or its experimental Markdown Editor
  • You want AI built into a free editor

Facts side by side

Facts checked October 9, 2026
FactFlywriteVS Code
What it is A Mac writing app for Markdown with a terminal built inA free code editor
Price $99 a year, every feature, GitHub backup includedFree for private or commercial use
AI No bundled AI and no Flywrite AI feeCopilot Free for eligible GitHub accounts, paid Copilot plans, or your own model key in chat
Claude Code Needs a paid Claude plan or a Console account in both
Running your agent A launcher in the terminal under your draft, with no extension to install: Claude Code sees the file you're in, the line you're on and the text you've highlighted. Codex, Cursor Agent and any CLI agent such as Gemini CLI or OpenCode run there tooAnthropic's extension panel, which can show each proposed edit as a diff to accept or reject; or the CLI in the integrated terminal. Both see your editor selection (the CLI while the extension is installed)
Platforms MacMac, Windows, Linux
Writing view A Rendered view, with Source one keystroke away; your own themes, colors, fonts and page width, per project or per fileA Markdown preview beside the file or toggled with it; an experimental Markdown Editor edits rendered Markdown directly; extensions can add to the preview
Terminal The same shell as Terminal, right below your writing, with agent launchersIntegrated terminal at the workspace root, using your installed shells
Undoing agent edits A whole-project checkpoint the moment Claude Code starts; restore the project or one fileChat checkpoints before each request, which don't reverse completed terminal commands; Claude Code's /rewind
Backup and sync Built in and included: one Sync button checkpoints, pulls and pushes to your own GitHub repository, with no Git commands; GitHub's free plan includes private repositoriesBuilt-in Git: commit, push, pull and sync, including with GitHub

Sources: Flywrite pricing, Flywrite docs, VS Code FAQ, VS Code Markdown, Copilot in VS Code, Source control in VS Code, Claude Code in VS Code. Each source and its date is listed under Sources and limits.

Flywrite is $99 a year for Mac, with no AI fee. Buy Flywrite for Mac

Where each one wins

Where Flywrite wins

  • Built for prose, and yours to style. A Rendered view that looks like the finished piece is the everyday writing view, with Source one keystroke away. Pick your theme, colors, fonts and page width, per project or per file. VS Code's Markdown Editor, which edits rendered Markdown, is experimental, and its docs say it could change or be removed.
  • Your agent, not ours. Run Claude Code, Codex or Cursor Agent from launchers, or any CLI agent that runs in your terminal, such as Gemini CLI or OpenCode. Flywrite never charges for AI.
  • The terminal knows what you're writing. With no extension to install, Claude Code sees the file you're in, the line you're on and the text you've highlighted.
  • One checkpoint for the whole project. Flywrite checkpoints the whole project the moment Claude Code starts. VS Code's chat checkpoints don't reverse completed terminal commands.
  • Backup and sync without Git commands. One Sync button backs up the project to your own GitHub repository and keeps your Macs in step. It's included in Flywrite, and GitHub's free plan includes private repositories. In VS Code, backup means working with Git's commits, pushes and pulls.

Where VS Code wins

  • Free for any use. VS Code is free for private or commercial use. Flywrite is $99 a year.
  • Every desktop platform. Mac, Windows and Linux; Flywrite is Mac only.
  • AI built in. VS Code offers agents on a Copilot Free allowance, or your own model key in chat. With Flywrite you pay your agent's provider separately.
  • Its agents keep checkpoints too. VS Code snapshots affected files before each chat request, on by default.

Agent edit and undo, step by step

Documented behavior from each product's docs, checked October 9, 2026
StepFlywriteVS Code
Start the agent A Claude Code launcher in the terminal under your draftCopilot agents in chat, or Claude Code in its extension panel or the integrated terminal
Point it at your text Select text: Claude Code sees the file, the line and your selectionSelect text: Claude Code's extension sees your editor selection, and so does the CLI in the integrated terminal while the extension is installed
See the change The editor updates live as the agent editsThe Markdown preview updates as the file changes; in the extension's Manual mode, each edit opens first as a side-by-side diff to accept or reject
Undo it Restore the project or one file from the checkpoint taken when Claude Code started; /rewind works here tooChat checkpoints restore files and chat; Claude Code's /rewind restores code, conversation or both
Undo a change made by a shell command Restoring the project brings each file back as it was at that checkpoint, so later edits in the session go back too. Flywrite saves a safety checkpoint firstNeither chat checkpoints nor /rewind reverses it; both point you to Git

Write in Flywrite, keep coding in VS Code

  1. Open the same folder in Flywrite. Choose Open Folder on the Welcome screen, or the + in the projects rail; there's nothing to import, and VS Code keeps working on the same ordinary files. If the folder is already a Git repository, checkpoints stay on for it.
  2. Make the page yours. Choose a theme, fonts and page width in Settings → Appearance.
  3. Start Claude Code from a terminal launcher. It sees your selection with no setup.
  4. Leave automatic checkpoints on in Settings → Writing.
  5. Connect GitHub for backup. One Sync action backs up the folder to your own GitHub repository; GitHub's free plan includes private repositories.

Questions

Does VS Code have a Markdown preview?

Yes. Press ⇧⌘V to switch a Markdown file to its preview, or ⌘K V to open the preview beside it and watch it update as you edit; extensions and your own CSS can restyle it. VS Code's docs also describe an experimental Markdown Editor (Reopen Editor With → Markdown Editor) that edits rendered Markdown directly, and say it could change or be removed.

Can I run Claude Code in VS Code instead?

Yes. Anthropic's Claude Code extension is its recommended way to run there, and the Claude Code CLI also runs in VS Code's integrated terminal; both need a paid Claude plan or a Console account. As in any host, Claude Code's own /rewind doesn't track files changed by shell commands.

Do I need Copilot for Flywrite?

No. Flywrite runs the CLI agent you already use, such as Claude Code, Codex or Cursor Agent, in its built-in terminal. You pay that agent's provider, not Flywrite.

Which agents can I use in Flywrite?

Claude Code, Codex and Cursor Agent have launchers, and any CLI agent that runs in your terminal runs in Flywrite, such as Gemini CLI or OpenCode. Claude Code sees your selection automatically, and Cursor Agent does after a one-time setup; with other agents, ⌘⇧L sends your selection to the terminal.

Will Flywrite open my VS Code folder?

Yes. A Flywrite project is just a folder of files on your computer, so choose Open Folder and pick it. If the folder is already a Git repository, checkpoints stay on for it.

Is Flywrite available for Windows or Linux?

No. Flywrite is a Mac app. VS Code runs on Mac, Windows and Linux.

Bring your agent to Flywrite

$99 a year · Mac · every feature

Buy Flywrite for Mac See how the terminal works

Sources and limits

Plans and features change, so check each product's current pricing before you buy.